Green Energy International Limited (GEIL), an indigenous oil and gas company, has launched Nigeria’s first onshore crude oil export terminal in over five decades. Located at Otakikpo in Rivers State, the facility is the first of its kind to be developed and operated by a private African company and is expected to significantly enhance the country’s oil export capacity.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Green Energy revealed that the new Otakikpo crude oil terminal boasts an initial storage capacity of 750,000 barrels and a daily loading capacity of 360,000 barrels. The terminal’s storage capacity is expandable to three million barrels, positioning it among the largest inland crude handling facilities in Nigeria.
The company noted that the new terminal will contribute to achieving the Federal Government’s crude oil production target of 2.06 million barrels per day. Nigeria currently struggles to meet its OPEC quota due to infrastructural limitations and oil theft, with onshore terminals seen as a key solution to logistics and security challenges.
“This milestone marks a new era in Nigeria’s energy infrastructure,” the company stated. “The Otakikpo crude oil terminal was completed ahead of schedule in under two years and is one of the most ambitious projects in Nigeria’s energy sector in recent years.”
According to the statement, the development has already attracted over $400 million in investment, with the full project estimated to cost $1.3 billion. The terminal is currently connected to the Otakikpo field, which produces about 10,000 barrels per day but is designed to receive up to 250,000 barrels daily, making it a potential hub for multiple operators.
The terminal is strategically located to serve over 40 nearby stranded oil fields with estimated reserves of over three billion barrels of oil equivalent. The infrastructure will provide a cost-effective route for evacuating crude from these underutilized assets.
Green Energy highlighted that the terminal also aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s plans to revitalise the Ogoni and Opobo fields in the Niger Delta, which have been largely inactive for more than three decades. The proximity of the new terminal to these areas is expected to attract new investments and expedite development.
Crude exports from the Otakikpo terminal are expected to begin between May 23 and May 25, 2025. This will mark Nigeria’s return to onshore crude shipping logistics on a large scale and reduce the country’s dependency on offshore terminals, which are often prone to attacks and operational delays.
The company added that the terminal’s completion is coming at a time when global demand for African crude is rising. It expects the project to attract more foreign investment and strengthen Nigeria’s position as a key player in the international oil market.
